Sorting device



April 9,1946. K. 2. ROSTAGNO Somme DEVICE Filed April 19, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 -INVENTQR A BY L.,'Z.RU5TABNEI A ORNEYS April 9, 1946.- K Z R081; 2,398,329

SORTINGQ DEVICE Filed A rii 19, 1,944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR QQRL Z. RUETAEND ATORN Patented Apr. 9, 1946 A'i-ENT crrics SORTING DEVICE Karl Z. Rostagno, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Remington Arms Company, Inc., Bridgeport,

Conn-1., a corporation of Delaware Application April 19, 1944, Serial No 531,711

Claims.

The present invention relates to a sorting device, and particularly a device for incorporation in the reciprocating cross feed of a punch machine or the like for feeding cup-shaped articles into operative relation with the machine. Such cup-shaped articles, as for instance tubular shells for forming bullet jackets, are fed into relation to the cross feed through a gravity feed tube wherein the shells are disposed in end to end relation, 30 that, as the lowermost shell drops into the receiving pocket of the cross feed and is carried into operative alignment with the reciprocating punch of the machine, the following shell drops upon the surface of the cross feed in position to fall into the receiving pocket upon the return stroke of the cross feed. The shells or components are placed in the feed tube by a hopper mechanism designed to deliver all components to the feed tube in head-down position but the construction of such hoppers and ancillary devices is such that occasionally a component gets into the feed tube in inverted or mouthdown position. The punches and dies of the press are designed to operate upon components in head-down position and the feeding of an inverted component into the press may result in very damaging tool smash-ups.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means for receiving and ejecting inverted shells during the normal reciprocatory movement of the cross feed, in such manner that there will be no stoppage in the operation of the machine as an inverted shell is ejected, nor will'there be any interruption in the timed feeding of shells to the punch machine, a shell being fed into op-- erative relation with the machine upon each projecting movement of the cross feed, irrespective of the presence of an inverted shell in the feed line.

' With the above and other objects in view, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, and this embodiment will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the cross feed of a punch machine, or the like, showing the cross feed in its projected position, with a shell in line with the draw punch, and another shell at the base of the feed tube disposed in its proper open end up position, the dot-and-dash lines indicating the retracted position of the cross feed.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the cross feed, taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the cross feed,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view, partially in vertical section and partially in side elevation and upon a slightly enlarged scale, showing the. cross feed in its projected position with an inverted shell cooperatively engaged therewith, the dotand-dash lines indicating the normal raised position of the shell ejection member.

Fig. 5 is a similar view, showing the cross feed in its retracted position and showing the ejecting operation of the ejection member, the dot-anddash lines indicating an intermediate position thereof between the projected and retracted positions of the cross feed.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the top plate of the cross feed removed from the device.-

Fig. 7 is a rear end elevation thereof;

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the sorting device according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown incorporated in the cross feed of a multiple punch machinefor performing drawing or other operations upon tubular shell shaped articles, such as those used for theformation of bullet jackets or other ammunition components. It will be understood, however, that the invention may be incorporated in any type of machine employing'a cross feed for individually feeding articles from a' supply line into alignment with means for performing an operation thereon. The cross feed table It) is provided at one side of a standard H in the upper portion of which there is supported a vertically disposedgravity feed tube 12 extending into feeding relation with the cross feed, and forwardly of which there is provided thcvertically-reciprocating punch l3 adapted to engage and carry the individual articles into relation with a die or the like l4. Instead of the punch and die parts of the processing machine cooperating with the cross feed may be an inserting punch and a rerearward-end the slide Hi is provided at its underside with a fixture carrying a cross pin 2|, helical spring 22-42 being connected between the ends of the pin 2! and pins 23-23, secured to the sides of the table, and adapted to exert; forward propulsion movement to the slide. Rearward or retraction movement is imparted to the slide by means of a lever 24, preferably cam operated and engaged with a bearing head 25 adjustably screwed into the forward .side of the fixture 20 and drawn into engagement with the lever by the forward pull of the springs 22. The pro jected position of the slide is adjustably predetermined by means of a stop screw 26 carried by the fixture 20 and adapted to contact the .rearward end of the table H] in the projected position of the slide. The full lines in Fi 1 indicate the projected position of the .slide and the .dotand-dash lines the retracted position.

Upon the cross feed slide l6 there .is mounted apair of article receiving and gripping members, each consisting of a lever 21 pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon a bearing bushing 28 engaged about a retaining bolt 29 screwed into the slide, and a jaw member 38 secured upon the forward end of the. lever 21 by means of screws 31 and provided upon its inner surface with a semi-cylindrical vertically disposed recess 32, the recesses of the two opposed jaws providing a vertically disposed cylindrical split pocket for receiving and gripping the shell. At its upper end the inner surface of the jaw is divergentlyin- 'olined upwardly, as at 33, to provide an entrance guide for the shell. The forward ends of the levers 2'1 terminate substantially in line with the forward end of the slide [6, while the jaws project forwardly therefrom so that there is a vertically clear passage beneath the jaws.

, fln the projected position of the slide the shell receiving pocket of the jaws is in vertical alignment with thepunch I3 and the die 14 of the punch machine, or the like, so that as the punch descends it engages the shell removing it from the jaws and carrying it into the die. In the retracted position of the slide the shell receiving pocket of the jaws is in vertical line with the feed tube 1.2, the forward end of the table 4! being als disposed directly beneath the feed tube, so that "its upper surface within the slideway l5 forms a support beneath the jaw pocket for the shell as it drops into the pocket, as shown in Fig; 5.. In this retracted position the jaws are 'open'ed'to permit the free dropping of the shell therein, and for this purpose the rearward ends of the levers '21 enter between the cam members 34-34 provided upon the table ID at each side of thekslideway l5, these cams compressing the rearward ends of the levers and opening the forward ends. A helical compression spring .35 is interposed between the rearward ends of the levers 21, normally pressing the rearward ends I apart and pressing the forward jaws toward each other, so that they frictionally grip the shell between them under spring pressure. As soon as the slide moves forwardly in its projecting movement the levers 2'1 disengage from the cams 34 so that the jaws close upon the shell before it leaves the support of the table I0 and thus frictionally grip the shell as the slide moves from its retracted to its projected position.

A top plate 36 is carried upon the slide, being supported upon supporting collars 3131 superimposed upon the upper ends of the bushings 28 and retained :by-nuts 38 engaged upon the upper ends of the 'bOlts '29, the top plate being provided with holes 39-39 through which the upper ends of the bolts project. The forward end portion of the top plate engages within recessed portions 40 in the upper surfaces of the jaws 30 and its forward edge is beveled, as at 4|, the upper surface of the plate being substantially flush with the upper surface of the jaws forwardly of the plate. Consequently, there is a free transition of the end of a shell resting upon the upper surface of the plate tothe jaws during the retracting movement of the slide, and a free transition of a shell resting upon the upper end of a shell ripped by the jaws, as shown in Fig. 5, to the upper surface of the plate during the projecting movement of the slide.

At a point .in direct vertical line with the feed line I2,-in the projected position of the cross feed as shown .in Fig. .4, the slide I6 is provided with a vertical pilot pin 42 having its threaded lower end .43 screwed into a threaded opening 44 of the slide, its upper end extending into an oval shaped opening '45 in the top plate with its upper or pinnacle surface in flush relation with the upper surface of the top plate. The diameter of the pilot pin is smaller than the inside diameter of the shell, so that an inverted shell will engage over it, as shown in Fig. 4, the width of the oval opening 45 being sufficiently larger than the outside diameter of the shell to permit such engagement while its length is such as to accommodate the end of an ejector member presently to be more fully referred to. The spacebetween the pilot pin and the forward side of the opening 45 is substantially less than the outside diameter of the shell, so that in the case of a shell in its normal or head down position engaging the upper end of the pilot pin, as shown in Fig. 1, the shell will ride acrossthe space between the pin and the edge of the-opening on to the surface of the top plate as the cross feed is retracted.

in its rearwardly extending portion the top plate is provideda-t its underside with a depending s'leevebearing 46 preferably integrally formed with a supporting web portion 4'! staked into the top plate and welded in place. A slot 48 is cut centrally in the bearin for receiving the apertured end of the ejector arm 4'9, a bearing pin 50 being engaged in the sleeve bearing and through the apertured end of the ejector arm to provide pivotal support therefor. The bearing pin is provided'at one end with-a head 5 and at its other end with a retaining cotter pin 52, the head end of the pin being projected from the sleeve bearing and having engaged thereon a coil spring 53 having one end 54 projecting rearwardly and engaging the under surface of the 'top plate and the other end '55 angularly bent into engagement with a retaining notch 55 in the under side of the ejector arm 49, this spring normally exerting upward pressure upon the arm toward the top plate. At its forward end the ejector arm is provided with a spoon like formation '51 having an oval aperture '53 therein in which the pilot pin :42 is engaged, the spoon like formation being oonvexly curved at its upper side, so that normally it is extended into the opening 45 of the top plate with its forward rim portion within the space between the pilot pin and the forward edge of the opening in substantially flush relation with the upper surface of the topplate. The ejector arm is provided intermediate its ends with a horizontally disposed transversely projecting rod 59 for cooperation and 62, engaged upon the upper surface of the table H) at one side of the slideway I; the portion between these foot portions being engaged with the side surface of thetable and having a longitudinal slot 63 engaged by one of the gib" adjusting set screws 18, the lock nut iii of the set screw engaging the cam member and securing it to the table. The cam member is provided with a forwardly disposed inclined cam surface 64 disposed in the path of travel of the rod 59 of the ejector arm, in its depressed position brought about by the engagement therewith of "an inverted shell, as will presently more fully appear. The upper surface 55 of the cam member is approximatel horizontai rearwardly of the cam surface 84 and is adapted to engage beneath the rod 59 in the normal raised position of the ejector arm and in the retracted position of the cross feed. Preferably the upper surface 65 is at a very slight downward and iorward angle of inclination, and for this purpose the forward foot portion 62 is formed slightly closer to the bottom edge of the cam member than the foot portion 6!, so that the whole plate is tilted slightly forward when the two foot portions are firmlyengaged with the upper surface of the table Iii.

In operation the shell shaped articles A, illustrated. for example as bullet jacket forming components, are fed by gravity in end to end relation through the feed tube ii. to the surface of the top plate 36 of the cross feed slide. Normally the shells are fed with their closed or head ends down. As long as they continue to feed in .this relati n the lowermost shell engages upon the upper end of the pilot pin 42 in the projected position of th cross feed, as shown in Fig, l,

and as the cross feed is retracted it traverses the space between the pilot pin and the edge of the opening 45, the forward portion of the top plate moving beneath this shell until the jaw pocket comes into vertical line with the tube I2. Thereupon it drops into this pocket, the jaws being opened in this position through. engagement of the rearward ends of the levers 2'! with the cams 34. In the retracted position of the cross feed;

this shell is supported upon the forward end portion of the slideway E5 of the table, as shown in ,Fig. 5, and as the cross feed moves forwardly this shell slides from beneath the superimposed the head end is down, as shown in Fig. 5, this shell will simply rest upon the, upper end of the pilot pin and be in position to drop into the receiving pocket of the jaws upon retraction of the slide.

In the case of an inverted shell. such inverted shell will drop down about the pilot pin, upon projection of the cross feed. as shown in Fig. 4) I the weight of the column'cf the shells in the feed tube causing the ejector arm 439 to be depressed into engagement with the slide Hi, the force of the spring 53 being insuflicient to oppose the weight of the shells. The inverted shell is thus lowered through the opening 45 in the topplate to a point where its upper end is clear of the lower end of the feed tube 12, the depression of the ejector arm disposing the rod 59 in horizon-,

tal line with the inclined cam surface 64. Upon retracting movement of the cross feed the in- V verted shell is carried rearwardly with the pilot pin, the following shell in the feed tube dropping ;upon the upper surface of the top plate in position to drop into thereceiving pocket of the jaws so that there is no interruption in the successive feed of shells to the machine upon each feed stroke of the cross feed. As the rod 51 of the depressed ejector arm engages the cam surface 64 the ejector arm is forced upwardly to eject the inverted shell, the rapidity of the retracting movement of the cross feed being such that the arm is forced upwardly with suificient force and speed'to impel the inverted cartridge upwardly and rearwardly, as shown by the full lines in Fig. 5. The dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 5 show an intermediate position of the ejector arm and shell as they are being raised by the cam. An inclined receiving chute 66 having its upper end positioned over the rearward portion of the retracted top plate 35 catches the ejected shell and conveys it to a suitable receptacle. During projecting movement of the cross feed the ejector arm remains inits upwardly moved position through the force of the spring 53, so that its forward spoon end 51 is in position within the opening 35 for cooperation with the next shell.

The form of the invention illustrated in the drawing and described herein is typical and illustrative only, and it is evident that the invention is capable of embodiments in other forms, all falling within the scope of the appended claims, which are to be broadly construed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sorting device for tubular articles having an open end and a closed head end, a slideway,

tion, article feed means in line with said article receiving position of said pocket means adapted to individually feed articles thereto in endwise relation, and a pilot pin carried by said slide in line with said article feed means in the projected po sition of said slide, a head down article adapted to engage the end of said pilot pin for subsequent engagement in said pocket means upon retraction of said feed slide, and an open end down article adapted to be engaged over said pilo't pin for retracting movement therewith through the retracting movement of said slide.

2. In a sorting device for tubular articles having an open end and a closed head end, a slideway, a reciprocatory feed slide movable in said slideway, article receiving pocket means carried by said slide movable through retracting and projecting movement of said slide between an article receiving position and an article delivering position, article feed means in line with said article receiving position of said pocket means adapted to individually feed articles thereto in endwise relation, a pilot pin carried by said slide in line with said article feed means in the projected position of said slidefand a top plate 6X- tending between said pilot pin and said pocket means for supporting an article as said slide is projected and retracted and having an article receiving opening engaged by the upper end of said pilot pin, a head down article adapted to v engage the end of said pilot pin for subsequent slideway, article receiving pocket means carried by said slide movable through retracting and projecting movement of said slide between an article receiving position and an article delivering position, article feed means in line with said article receiving position of said pocket means adapted to individually feed articles thereto in endwise relation, a pilot pin carried by said slide in line with said article feed means in the projected position of said slide, and axtop plate extending between said pilot pin and said pocket means for supporting an article as said slide is projected and retracted and having an article receiving opening engaged by the upper end of said pilot pin, the upper-surfaces of said pocket means, said pilot pin, and said top plate being in flush relation in a plane, a head down article adapted to engage the end of said pilot pin for subsequent engagement in said pocket means upon retraction of said feed slide, and an open end down article adapted to be engaged through said opening over said pilot pin for retracting movement therewith through the retracting movement of said slide. V

4. In a sorting device for tubular articles having an open end and a closed head end, a slideway, a reciprocatory feed slide movable in said slideway, article receiving pocketmeans carried by said slide movable through retracting and projecting movement of said slide between an article receiving position and an article delivering position, article feed means in line with said'article receiving position of said pocket means adapted to individually feed articles thereto in endwise relation, a pilot pin carried by said slide in line with said article feed means in the projected position of said slide, and a top plate extendin between said pilot pin and said pocket means for supporting an article as said slide is projected and retracted and having an article receiving opening engaged by the upper end of said pilot pin, the space between said pilot pinv and the edge of said opening being less than the diameter of one of said articles, a head downarticle adapted to engage the end of said pilot pin for subsequent engagement in said pocket means upon retraction of said feed slide, and an open end down article adapted to be engaged through said opening over said pilot pin for retracting movement therewith through the-retracting movement of said slide.

5. 'In a sorting device for tubular articles having an open end anda' closed head end, a slideway, a reciprocatory feed slide movable in said slideway, article receiving pocket means carried by a said slide movable through retracting and projecting movement of said'slide between an article reeeiving position and an article delivering position, article feed means in line with said article receiving position of said pocket means adapted to individually feed articles thereto in endwise relation, a pilot pin carried by said slide'in line with said article feed means in the projected position of said slide, a head down article adapted to engage the end of said pilot pin for subsequent engagement in said pocket means upon retraction of said feed slide, and an open end down article adapted to be engaged over said pilot pin for retracting movement therewith through the retracting movement of said slide, and ejector means operable through the retracting movement of said reed slide to remove an open end down article from said pil-otpin.

6. In a. sorting device for tubular articles having an open end and a closed head end, a sliderway, a reciprocatory feed slide movabl in said way, a reciprocatory feed slide movable in said slideway, article receiving pocket means carried by said slide movable through retracting and projecting movement of said slide between an article receiving position and an article delivering position, article feed means in line with said article receiving position of said pocket means adapted to individually feed articles thereto in endwise relation, a pilot pin carried by said slide in line With said article feed means in the projected position of said slide, a head down article adapted to engage the end of said pilot pin for subsequent engagement in said pocket means upon retraction of said feed slide, and an open end down article adapted to be engaged over said pilot pin for retracting movement therewith through the iretracting movement of said slide, and movably mounted ejector means arranged to be depressed by an article engaged over said pilot pin and oppin.

erable through the retracting movement of said feed slide to remove said article from said pilot pm.

'7. In a sorting device for tubular articles hav ing an open end and a closed head end, a slideway, a reciprocatory feed slide movable in said slideway, article receiving pocket means carried by said slide movable through retracting and projecting movement of said slide between an article receiving position and an article delivering position, article feed means in line with said article receiving position of said pocket means adapted to individually feed articles thereto in endwise relation, a pilot pin carried by said slide in line with said' article feed means in the proand spring pressed movably mounted ejector means arranged to be depressed by the weight of an article engaged over said pilot pin and op-- erable through the retracting movement of said feed slide to remove said article from said pilot 8. In a sorting device for tubular articles having an'open end and a closed head end, a slideway, a reciprocatory feed slide movable in said slideway, article receiving pocket means carried by said slide movable through retracting and proectin movement of said slide between an article receiving position and an article delivering position, article feed means in line with said article receiving position of said pocket means adapted to individually feed articles thereto in endwise relation, a pilot pin carried by said slide inline with said article feed means in the projected position of said slide, a head down article adapted to engage the end of said pilot pin for subsequent engagement in said pocket means upon retraction of said feed slide, and an open end down article adapted to be engaged over said pilot pin for. retracting movement therewith through the retractingmovementof said slide, a pivoted spring pressed ejector arm arranged to be depressed by the weight of an article engaged over said pin, and acamengageable by said ejector arm through the retracting movement of said feed slide to cause removal of said article from said pilot pin through raising of said arm.

9. In a sorting device for tubular articles having an open end and a closed head end, ,a slideway, a reciprocatory feed slide movable in said slideway, article receiving pocket means carried by said slide movable through retracting and projecting movement of said slide between an article receivin position and an article delivering position, article feed means in line with said article receiving position of said pocket means adapted to individually feed articles thereto in endwise relation, a pilot pin carried by said slide in line with said article feed means in the projected position of said slide, a top plate extending between said pilot pin and said pocket means for supporting an article as said slide is projected and retracted and having an article receiving opening engaged by the upper end of said pilot pin, a head down article adapted to engage the end of said pilot pin for subsequent engagement in said pocket means upon retraction of said feed slide, and an open end down article adapted to be engaged through said opening over said pilot pin for retracting movement therewith through the retracting movement of said slide, a pivoted spring pressed ejector arm having an apertured end engaged by said pilot pin and normally engaged in said opening of said top plate, said ejector arm adapted to be depressed by the weight of an article engaged over said pilot pin,

and a cam engageable by said ejector arm through the retracting movement of said feed slide to cause removal of said article from said pilot pin, through raising of said arm.

10. In a sorting device for tubular ammunition components having an open end and a closed head end, a slideway, a reciprocatory feed slide movable in said slideway, component receiving pocket means carried by said slide movable throughretracting and projecting movement of said slide between a component receiving position and a component delivering position, component feed means in line with said component receiving position of said pocket means adapted to individually feed components thereto in endwise relation, and a pilot pin carried by said slide in line with said component feed means in the projected position of said slide, a head down component adapted to engage the end of said pilot pin for subsequent engagement in said pocket means upon retraction of said feed slide, and v an open end down component adapted to be engaged over said pilot pin for retracting movement therewith through the retracting movement of said slide.

KARL Z. ROSTAGNO. 

